Here it is: New Electro/Progressive House - Tips/Advice?

[brucek]

Hi there.

I'd say this composition is about 93% complete. I'd love to hear your tips on how to spice it up and give it that 'pro quality'. What do you think?

http://soundcloud.com/bruce-k/work-in-progress-updated



PS, if you read my previous thread and heard the track in its early stages, I had to remove one of the hard hitting electro drops, due to issues with transitioning it in. That part will certainly be used in another track though.

[8O]

Love the melody - very nice track. As regards production, yes, it could be more punchy - is it compressed at all? Also the first time the silent pause comes in, it's a good effect, but the 2nd and 3rd times it feels a bit jarring, maybe add a tiny bit of reverb on it, or experiment with keeping just one of the parts going at during the silences...

[brucek]

Thanks for the feedback .

To answer your question, I did use compression, primarily in the second half of the track after the break. I used sidechain on the leads and bass to slightly duck the kick drum. I am VERY new to compression usage, so if you have an idea of settings that would work better for the track, please let me know.

Could you possibly get me some XX:XX times on the 'silent pauses' you are referring to? Are you talking the ones in the first half or the second?

Thanks!

[8O]

Yo, timed comments added to Soundcloud... 8O = substance_g

[tlennon]

Have to agree with 80/substance_g on all accounts. Furthermore, the song can use some reverb overall and drum fills. I absolutely love this song otherwise. I listened to it at the office earlier with good earbuds but wanted to wait on my comments till I go home to hear it on some good computer speakers (but not my pro monitors in my studio). Very exciting piece of work that made me say..."F&%ckn Ehh" troughout. I could listen to it again and again. GREAT job Bruce!

[brucek]

YESS!! hehe

Really appreciate the feedback and recommendations guys. What I did during the choppy parts towards the end (that substance pointed out) was kept the underlying pad rolling. I still achieved the choppy effect and kept it just a little smooth. Thanks for the tip!

As for the reverb, I made an few attempts to add a bit of reverb to all of the leads, and what I couldn't seem to retain was the punchy 'in your faceness' that I was going for in this track. The reverb mellowed it out, and I did not like it. I'll continue to experiment with different settings, but so far, not a fan of what it produced.

Ohhh drum fills, drum fills. I'm still new at this and pretty weak with transitional fills. I'm learning though.

Means so much to know that other people like the song. I've got more like this coming.

I'll post an updated track tomorrow with your recommendations implemented.

[Bleep Blop Ima Robot]

pretty good song, keep it up and you'll get the hang of everything.

[8O]

Really appreciate the feedback and recommendations guys. What I did during the choppy parts towards the end (that substance pointed out) was kept the underlying pad rolling. I still achieved the choppy effect and kept it just a little smooth. Thanks for the tip!

Sounds promising!

As for the reverb, I made an few attempts to add a bit of reverb to all of the leads, and what I couldn't seem to retain was the punchy 'in your faceness' that I was going for in this track. The reverb mellowed it out, and I did not like it. I'll continue to experiment with different settings, but so far, not a fan of what it produced.

I just meant a little bit of reverb added to those silent sections, not for the whole song, but sounds like you've got it sorted now anyway...

Feel free to post the updated version sometime...

[brucek]

I just meant a little bit of reverb added to those silent sections, not for the whole song, but sounds like you've got it sorted now anyway...Feel free to post the updated version sometime...

Yes I understood your thought. Terrence mentioned it needed reverb 'overall'.

Anyways, I updated the link in the first post. If you dont feel like scrolling allll the way back up, here it is: http://soundcloud.com/bruce-k/work-in-progress-updated

Just a couple simple changes. Left the pad rolling during the chops. Layered a lower kick on the drop after the main break.

Thanks again for your words of wisdom!

[8O]

Anyways, I updated the link in the first post. If you dont feel like scrolling allll the way back up, here it is: http://soundcloud.com/bruce-k/work-in-progress-updated

Just a couple simple changes. Left the pad rolling during the chops. Layered a lower kick on the drop after the main break.

Thanks again for your words of wisdom!

Listened to the updated version - man, that is such a nice track - one thing you might want to try is side-chaining the pads which are rolling during the chops, might make it a little more pumping. Sounded great on the laptop speakers, will listen to it again on the monitors later... good stuff...!

[brucek]

Thanks soo much! It really means the world to hear that from the experts around here. Can the sidechain compression be used as a drawable automation parameter in the session view? I'm guessing it can. Like I said before, I'm really new to the compression thing.

[8O]

Thanks soo much! It really means the world to hear that from the experts around here. Can the sidechain compression be used as a drawable automation parameter in the session view? I'm guessing it can. Like I said before, I'm really new to the compression thing.

Not an expert at all, in fact my mixing's pretty lousy, it all turns into soup, but I do know a good track when I hear one...